Persistant Sore Throat (Over a month)

I recently landed in England, for a five month visit. A week before I left I had a cold. I got better,flew in then two days after I land I get a sore throat/ front right neck pain for over a month. I've seen a doctor who assured me it was viral, but prescribed antibiotics anyway. (In case of a secondary infection) I took the full course with no effect. It cycles from day to day. Sore throat or pain in neck right under the right jaw. Or both on bad days. (Stabbing feeling) Went back to the doctor. Was told there was no swelling just some slight redness, and there was nothing wrong with me. Its getting worse, pain has gone from slightly annoying 3 to 6 or 7. It feels better while I'm eating and when I hold my head down....what could this be? I have no insurance and have already shelled out a ton of cash to see a doctor...who's useless in my book. :(

Jennie - sorry you are not getting relief. It is nearly impossible to diagnose this sort of thing on a forum. Possibilities would include (among other things, of course) inflammation of a saliva gland or a zoster-like outbreak. Both can be very painful. Did this doctor just look in your mouth or down your throat too? ENT specialists would do that and maybe get more/better information. I understand this is expensive, sorry.

She looked in my mouth for 10 seconds. But I've seen nurses that have had a better look and said it was just a little red. You said a zoster - like outbreak? I did get a cold sore with the cold I had. But... in my throat? Would it effect the same part of my throat? It never fully goes away and gets really bad from time to time. I've read about every forum on sore throats and have looked at oral herpes. I don't have any in my mouth. I did have a red patch at the back of my throat..no bumps though. How long would that last?

I recently quit smoking. Developed a small canker sore to add insult to injury...no other sores. I've read up on Cancers of the throat and besides the sore throat I've got no other symptoms. My sister had thyroid cancer but a lump was clearly visible I have no visible lump or can I feel any ''lumps'' My lymph nodes aren't even swollen. I think it has something to do with my travels, I keep telling myself that cause cancer freaks me out.

Acid reflux is something that comes up quite a bit. Considering my diet has changed considerably I gave this a chance. I ate plain toast, apples, and white rice. Didn't eat for 4 hours before bedtime and drank water only. Took an antacid pill that actually gave me heartburn!

What ''other things'' could it be? Is it something I should be worried about? Should I go home? I can't afford to see any more doctors here they are twice as expensive here. A specialist like an ENT I couldn't imagine how much that would cost.

I don't normally have and digestive issues. I did have some ''stuffiness'' in my right ear when I woke in the morning but no pain and it cleared as soon as I got up and moving.That hasn't returned though. I don't eat dairy products. I take a multi -vitamin every day. I was eating 2 oranges and drinking pineapple juice everyday until I developed a cancer sore...which really hurt. Even though it hurts I still get plenty of fluids,( Water, sprite, and juice) a lot of rest, and exercise daily. I'm doing everything I can to keep my immune system up.But thanks, I do really appreciate all of your input.

First off, take Patient1010's advice with a large block of salt. This person has no idea what you have but has no problem recommending treatment. Vitamin C taken as a supplement has not been shown to affect the outcome of infections. Everything else this person recommends is definitely cheap, but entirely baseless. Part of the reason I weigh in on these forums is to look out for that...

OK, so now we have established that the doc looked in your mouth -- for a very short time -- and not into your throat (he or she would have had to use a mirror or a scope). If you have pain in your THROAT the only way to get any objective information about it is to actually look at it! But I am also assuming that that is where you exactly mean (many people use the word "throat" to describe very general areas).

I'm glad you stopped smoking. Very unlikely to be a cancer. You are young and they typically present very differently. This sounds infectious and I agree that a virus is still the most likely. Zoster is a reactivation of chicken pox, can be brought on by stress or illness, and can involve the throat. This can be very painful. Other viruses are also associated with vesicular lesions that also can be very tender. Again, saliva gland inflammation could also be possible. I would not be suspecting cancer.

Note taken! :)
I guess it would be kind of confusing, so I'll elaborate. The back part of my throat near the tonsils, will about once a week become red and painful lasting on average 2 days...which kinda goes with the zoster thing. I sometimes have a hard time swallowing but this goes away and doesn't happen often. However the stabbing throbbing pain under my jaw I describe is more like my neck. About an inch below my jaw on the right side. It feels like the pain is right under the muscle but could be deeper.Holding the surrounding area, a hot water bottle. or neck deep in a warm bath can soothe some of the pressure.

Both are always an annoyance, but like I said ether one can become very painful. A feeling of a swollen bulging pain for hours or days then with a tingle from the middle of my neck and into my jaw its stops leaving only a dull pain and fear of it starting again. I have no other symptoms.

I read about submandibular gland stone and infection. Some of these symptoms fit. Which makes me think its possible, along with maybe a virus? Unless you think it could be the cause of the sore throat that comes and goes.( I change my toothbrush every 5 days and wash my hands like I have OCD) So there's little chance I'm re infecting myself. It does feel better when I eat, almost right after I eat the swelling feeling will return. I have plenty of saliva, but my mouth is very dry in the morning, even though I breath from my nose at night.

You have no idea the relief you gave me. Thank you so much for reading my ramblings, you have already been more relieving then the doctors I've seen! They seem to make up their minds before hearing all the symptoms. Again Thanks for your advice I find it very helpful.

You're very welcome. It's likely that whatever you have will be "self-limited" as they say and run it's course. Hopefully you won't have persistent problems with this, but if you do you should probably see an ENT doc once you're back in the states. Even though no one can every say for sure, you shouldn't be worrying about cancer with this story. Keep washing your hands and enjoy your trip!

So I thought I'd give an update. I still have the same symptoms, except I've found much relief with a product called Stepsils. Its a duel antiseptic lozenge, and has made the pain in my neck go away almost completely. Except for my throat still feels swollen (Only sometimes mainly when I have my head up later in the day) with again no visible swelling to be seen. It still get worse as the day wears on. I'm thankful for the pain to be almost gone, but was wondering what you thought, and maybe had an idea of what long term use of these could do? I take the recommended amount or less every day for about a week now...does this sound viral? What could a lozenge kill that penicillin didn't even touch? I don't think there's any lowering of my immune system, It seems to me like my body's not fighting it at all. I can handle eating these things as long as it takes, but what else can I do? I gargle with listerine 2x a day great dental care and oh for the frist time in my life I've got...bad breath :( even with all the brushing and rinsing...any ideas???

I have never heard of Stepsils -- probably something that is only available overseas or goes by a different name here. An antiseptic lozenge, huh? Couldn't comment on it, really.

Again, it's basically impossible to say much about your case without being able to examine you. I hate to speculate too much. Bad breath and "throat" fullness can be associated with cryptic/mildly inflamed tonsils. These symptoms can also be seen with chronic acid reflux.

I wish it were. I tried sleeping sitting on an angle. A small amount of food, apples and white rice in small amounts and no eating before bed. I ate antacid, which actually gave me heartburn. Tried for 2 days with no improvement. It feels more like a wound of some sort. A cut, a sore, something just raw. I went back to the nurse, who felt bad for me, and gave me a good looking over. Felt for swollen lymph nodes, they were all fine, even under the arms. My lungs are clear, and I have no cough. Its gotten painful again, not even the lozenges are helping much. Its getting harder to sleep because it feels like my throat is touching the other side, which annoys me.

I have no trouble swallowing food or fluid. Though eating my toast has started to get uncomfortable now that the pain has returned. The nurse said I needed blood work... it sounds expensive. I've been poking around at and have found a small bump that clicks when I push on it. I think this has always been on there though. I've tried to ignore it, and I'm reassured by the nurse that she didn't suspect cancer either because I have no weight loss and no cough. She felt around my neck for a second, and didn't feel anything. She said if it were cancer it would have gotten bigger...

I know you have told me everything you can being that you can't see me, but I'm desperate for answers. What you think it might be, crazy suggestions I'll take them. I'm willing to try anything to rid myself of this pain. Its ruined my vacation and I'm willing to say screw it all and go home. At least there I can go to the E.R. and they HAVE to treat me. I'm not sleeping much at night, so I have plenty of time to sit and worry. Two months now... I can't take it any more. Please any more advice you can give?

I know this post is old now, but I'm having these exact same symptoms. It's been going on for more than a month now, and I've seen three different doctors, none of whom can find anything wrong with me. One even told me it must be a neck injury manifesting itself as throat pain! Jennie, what ever happened with your case?

I had the flu i guess and just took over the counter drugs to take care of it but its been a month now and my tonsils are still badly inflamed and covered in a disgusting yellowish pus and just in the last 24 hrs its been really hard to move my jaw or my tongue. Can't eat or swallow very well. My ears are also killing me. I went to the hospital and the doctor wouldn't even let me finish my symptoms the doc would even prescribe me anything, he did take throat cultures but wouldn't even tell me the results when i asked. I'm not sure what to do my husband is thinking i have chronic tonsillitis and i may need surgery but still not sure on what to do please help!!

I had the flu i guess and just took over the counter drugs to take care of it but its been a month now and my tonsils are still badly inflamed and covered in a disgusting yellowish pus and just in the last 24 hrs its been really hard to move my jaw or my tongue. Can't eat or swallow very well. My ears are also killing me. I went to the hospital and the doctor wouldn't even let me finish my symptoms the doc would even prescribe me anything, he did take throat cultures but wouldn't even tell me the results when i asked. I'm not sure what to do my husband is thinking i have chronic tonsillitis and i may need surgery but still not sure on what to do please help!!

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